Nearby Share Made Easy: Share Files Across Devices

Nearby Share allows you to share files with nearby devices without needing to physically connect them.

To use Nearby Share, your device must be running Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) or later and have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled.

You can share files up to 100MB in size using Nearby Share, making it a convenient option for sharing smaller files.

The Nearby Share feature is available on eligible Android devices and can be enabled from the device's settings menu.

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Nearby Share is an easy and simple way to send files between two Android devices.

It's a feature that lets you share files, images, links, and other content directly between devices. This is similar to Apple's AirDrop feature for the iPhone.

You can use Nearby Share to share files between Android phones, and it will also work with Chromebooks "in the coming months".

The feature uses different methods to transfer files, such as Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy, WebRTC, or peer-to-peer Wi-Fi, which should allow it to work offline.

You can set your preferred visibility for Nearby Share to different levels of contacts, such as all, some, or staying hidden.

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Nearby Share creates a peer-to-peer Wi-Fi network between devices using a Bluetooth connection.

This means you don't need to be connected to Wi-Fi or have a data pack to use Nearby Share.

You do have to turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, though.

The big advantage of Nearby Share is that it will still work even when you're completely offline.

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Nearby Share is available on Android 6 and later, ChromeOS 91 and later, and Windows 10 and later.

To use Nearby Share on Windows, you'll need to install it manually, as it's not included in the operating system like it is on Android and ChromeOS. Windows devices must have both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to run Nearby Share.

Windows on ARM devices are not supported.

Nearby Share works on Android devices running Android 6.0 or higher, and select Google Pixel and Samsung phones already support it.

To use Nearby Share on your Android phone, you may need to install the Google Play Services beta, as the feature is still in the testing phase.

You can expect to see Nearby Share arrive on more devices "over the next few weeks", according to Google.

Nearby Share is already available on some Pixel and Samsung phones, and it's been tested on a Pixel 3XL with success.

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Using Nearby Share is a breeze once you have it set up. To enable Nearby Share on your Android device, go to Settings, scroll down to Google, tap on Device connections, and you should see Nearby Share.

Make sure you have Bluetooth turned on, as Nearby Share uses it to share files. You can check this by swiping down from the top of the screen and tapping the Bluetooth icon.

Nearby Share also requires Location Services to be enabled. You can do this by swiping down from the top of your screen and tapping on the Location icon.

To use Nearby Share, tap the "Share" button on an image, link, or document, and you'll see a little button that says "Nearby" below the file preview. If you're on an older device, Nearby Share will show up as an option alongside the usual app options when you try to share anything.

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Tap on the device you'd like to share with, and the other user will be met with a pop-up Nearby Share window letting them know you'd like to send them something and asking them for permission. They just need to tap on "Accept."

The file you're sharing will begin sending immediately, and transfer times will depend on your connection. Usually, it only takes a few seconds.

Here's a step-by-step guide to using Nearby Share:

You can choose who is able to see your device when using Nearby Share. The available options are: Everyone, Contacts, Your devices, and Hidden. This setting can be found in the Nearby Share settings menu on Android.

Nearby Share is finally launching, and it's going to make sharing files, images, links, and other content between Android devices a whole lot easier.

You can share files directly between Android devices with Nearby Share, which is available on devices running Android 6 and up.

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The feature works similarly to Apple's AirDrop, where you select the Nearby Share button on the share menu and wait for a nearby phone to appear.

You can set your preferred visibility for Nearby Share to different levels of contacts: all, some, or stay hidden.

It's even possible to send and receive files anonymously with Nearby Share.

Nearby Share shares files directly via whatever method your two phones deem is fastest: Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy, WebRTC, or peer-to-peer Wi-Fi.

This means you can share files even when you're offline.

Nearby Share will work between Android phones and will also work with Chromebooks in the coming months.

However, it can't share to iOS devices, Macs, or Windows machines... yet.

Google plans to try to expand the feature to additional platforms in the future, so fingers crossed.

The icon for Nearby Share looks like a couple of interweaved threads or wires, and you'll be able to toggle availability on and off with a button in your Quick Settings.